Intro

A laptop is a mobile computer which integrates all the basic input and output into a single unit. The term “mobile” clearly states that the user can use their computer on the move.

Then netbook is introduced as a light weight, low power and wallet friendly laptop which focuses on web-based activities. Until the tablet uproar (iPad) that clearly kills off netbook’s market. Even Dell is retracting from the netbook market. [source] Although netbook had lost this cruel war, but they still remain popular as low price PC for developing countries.

Today, what we have here is 1 Malaysia Netbook, branded as Great Wall, sourced from StarWorth Manufacturing Co.,Ltd. This netbook is given to students who in need through 1 Malaysia free netbook program by our government. By the way, the model number is SW-I10-04-1. One thing I have to make clear of is, there are more than one brand that is providing the netbook for our government, Great Wall is one of them.

I know, what is that cheesy “Great Wall” brand… Our beloved government even claim this poorly built netbook costs RM1000 (USD325) each. *facepalm* Let’s move on to the review to know why.

PS* The photos are taken in a rush, hence, sorry for low quality images.

PS** The netbook was sent to me as a review unit. Please refrain from asking me how to apply for getting the netbook.

Tech Specs

Packaging

The box looks normal, just like any other laptop or netbook boxes, except that obvious “1 Malaysia” logo to insist on 1 Malaysia’s Free Netbook program.

*Update* I’ve received some reader responding that they just got a plain brown box instead of what I got. I guess that’s how media and public exposure works. This netbook was distributed along with the presence of news media.

Open box. My dad actually did the unboxing when I was away, so I have no idea how everything was put together.

Look, Feel, Usability

First, we’ll have a look at the AC adapter, or “power brick” I usually call. I rarely put any focus on regular accessories because they’re too typical. Unlike this AC adapter, it literally caught my attention when I pick it up. It feels almost as light as empty plastic case. It makes hollow sound when you knock the power brick. This is ridiculous.

The battery seems fine though, it works as well as any regular laptop batteries. The 6 cell battery life is great, it clocked 5 hours with “Balanced” power setting at idle.

So far I’ve never encountered any irregularities with it.

The netbook – the back cover is printed with a humongous 1 Malaysia logo at the center and Great Wall logo at the corner. What’s more, it’s gloss finish. Expect endless fingerprints and scratches stick to the cover in a week.

Under the netbook – some stickers here and there. There are two compartments with removable covers which houses the RAM and HDD.

Audio jacks and card reader at the front.

Left – Power button, air vent, and Kensington lock slot. There’s a few activity LEDs just above the air vent.

Right – Two USB ports, ethernet port, VGA port and power port.

You might not notice this, but the USB port is upside down, check how it differs from your laptop or netbook.

Although it didn’t affect the performance, just weird and unique…

Sorry, the photos are taken in a rush, so the factory screen protector is still on the screen.

The keyboard’s build quality is horrible. When you type on it, the whole keyboard wobbles, as if all the keys would jump off any second.

The layout used is Americanized-ISO layout. Leave aside that mess at the right shift area, I don’t even want to talk about it. Worst of all, the placement of FN key at the leftmost bottom corner is brilliantly stupid. Imagine when you want use the copy, cut, paste shortcut function which you would accidentally press on FN key instead of CTRL key.

I generally don’t have any complain on touchpads even though they sucks, because it is an essential part for a laptop. However, my experience with this netbook’s touchpad is just plain horrible.

From the photo, clearly that the touch area shares the same piece of plastic as the netbook body. Is that you call a border of the touchpad area? It is so blended in that sometimes I accidentally swipe my fingers outside the border. Oh wait, it has gloss surface, hmm what does that mean? No more smooth swiping, what not, did you see all those fingerprints on it?

That’s not the end, the left and right click buttons are so stiff that I have to press with extra force and precision to have it work. Holding down the button are even worst.

Conclusion

Pros:

Decent processor for a netbook

64-bit instruction set

Supports up to 4GB DDR3 memory

Long battery life (6-cell battery)

Cons:

Low build quality

Low quality components (HDD, RAM, AC adapter)

Unreliable HDD

Bad driver support

Incomplete packaging

Lack of USB ports (only 2 available)

Upside down USB port

Low quality ethernet port

Low quality keyboard with funny key layout

Glossy & slippery touchpad

Good thing that this netbook comes with a decent set of chipset and processor, which allows the user to upgrade the RAM up to 4GB of DDR3!! This is a good news as previously, netbook mostly comes with DDR2 memory support only. But what matter the most is, DDR3 memory is cheaper than DDR2 memory. The battery life is excellent as well, comes with a extended 6-cell battery which serves you for around 5 hours depends on what you’re doing on it.

All those strengths easily beats up other netbooks, if you don’t know, netbook market is decreasing thanks to tablets. Hence, most of the PC makers out there stop introducing new netbook models. Well, this certainly is a bad news for those who really need netbooks, although netbook price plummets.

Now, the bad thing of this netbook. Out of the box, it couldn’t boot properly. It went into a non-stop boot loop frenzy. I thought it was just a problem with the OS, thus I decided to format and re-install the OS. To my horror, they don’t even provide any driver disc despite the user manual states the disc is included in the box *uberfail*. Good news that Windows 7 update comes to rescue, it manage to get all the devices working except the Ethernet controller. Another fail – there isn’t any proper documentation for the hardware specifications, whether the user manual or Internet. You have no idea what are those hardware installed in the netbook unless you use certain tools like CPUID or equivalent. In the end I have to check the hardware ID of the chip to find out the Ethernet controller model. Installing the correct version of driver solved the problem.

This issue doesn’t happen to this unit only, after I consult Mr. Google, apparently it happens on other units as well. We’re lucky that ours just the OS problem, some had dead HDD out of the box. Yeah, you guess it right, the HDD is another almighty China clone product.

*UPDATE 29/4/2012* The HDD of this netbook is dead, after 1 month’s usage. Sent the netbook for warranty.

Some say, “You’re too picky on it”, “not everyone have RM3000 to spend on a laptop” and so on. I’m sorry if I criticizes a lot but I don’t expect anyone to spend RM1000 on a piece of crap that possibly worth only RM500+-. How would you feel if you’re quoted RM100,000 for a regular Perodua Kancil just because Perodua claim it costs that much? Think of it.

I don’t wanna comment on how our government publicized to spend RM1000 on each netbook despite the costs should be around RM500+-. Those matters are out of a product review’s coverage and I have no intention to write politics.

My 2 cents for 1 Malaysia Netbook owners –

Don’t keep any critical data on this netbook, the stock HDD will definitely fail you, in time. Switch the HDD with a decent 2.5inch internal HDD (Seagate or Western Digital), then this netbook would work the way it intended to.

I do product reviews often and I conclude everything based on what it really worth of.

In fact this netbook supports up to 4GB of DDR3 RAM which is great. Unlike older models (HP, Dell, Acer) which only supports 2GB DDR2. The worst part is the HDD, if you swap the HDD with other reputable brands’, IMO this netbook would serve you well.

Atom systems should not support more the 2GB of RAM DDR2. So its entirely wrong that these netbook supports up to 4GB of DDR3 and so on. Ya one thing that i noticed in these netbooks are them live camera picture quality and battery backup is awesome.
If we talk about the heat-age, this netbook generate a lot of heat, so you unable to take it in hand during work. Keyboard is just ok..when u type on it…its look like you are rubbing your fingers on paper (so ruff). Sound quality just acceptable.

At first I also thought that I don’t care how it is as long as free. The reality is I got the netbook but cannot switch on since day 1. Check with local PC shop”s” and confirm that the HDD is dead. Sent back on 10/3/2012 and waited 2 months still not fixed yet (still in China pending warrenty claim woh).

What the hack, the government claim to spend RM1000 on it and this is what we got? Faulty HDD right out of the box also cannot get instant replacement, now I wondering the actual cost bought from factory should be < RM500 (as a lot of China wholesale website indicated)

I have no complaint if it works with poor quality, but unluckily me and few of my friends have encountered this problem, and still waiting…..waiting…..waiting….

today is 22/8/2012 I still haven’t received the repair netbook. no reply from them except they ask me return power cable 2 months ago, the reception told me that someone returned in January also not received the repaired netbook yet.

Hey, thanks for the insights and review on the one malaysia netbook,
overall I would say that the comments are pretty unbiased (should have seen other technology websites that review thousands of gadgets)

but I’m just wondering, if Malaysian government insist on buying a laptop for every student, why not just buy in bulk those low end laptops that are already in the market??
for 1k you can definitely get better laptops than this right?

why i cant get it… i realy hopes to get it to use for my assigment stpm this year 2012.. i have a lots of homework and need do by laptop! but i dont have own laptop.. i need go to cyber cafe.. and i can focus coz the places was so noisy! so .. how to get it.. can u help me?

Hi . can you tell me the what HDD brand can be change for this notebook. because I will receive this notebook at 18.07.2012 . because i just lucky to be selected in the recipient list to get this notebook . I just want to ask and I guess i will change the HDD . like you said at the TOP the HDD is suck. other than HDDs problem what else component have similar problem like this. Can you tell me , I need your answer ASAP

Ohh . i see . thank you for the information About the HDD , I have already preparing the money for it.

How about RAM ? . I still have the old type of 2G DDR3 RAM . Can input this to this notebook ? . as you say before, this computer can accept 4GB ram of DDR3. How about this 2GB ? . Can this notebook support it ? Sorry for many asking 😀

As I mentioned above, my review unit is Great Wall SW-I10-04-1, and do keep in mind that 1 Malaysia Netbook program source the netbooks from different computer manufacturers, such as Asus and Samsung. Hence, different unit has different specs.. please check your system’s specification before upgrade the RAM.

Theoretically, if it accepts 4GB RAM, it should be able to support 2GB as well. By the way, desktop RAM is different from laptop RAM.

nevermind . I already tried the 2GB . I know what difference about RAM . I not a newbie for this. sorry for saying this . I wonder why cant restart if i use the 2GB . and when i chge back to original ram . it can restart. haiz . somehow , i got new version and not like this post. HDD 250 GB , 1 GBRAM . 1.83 Ghz processor. Bluetooth . keypad “FN” at bottom left have return to the it should be place .

hi, my 1m netbook is unable to boot. my friend accidently compress my hdd. “tfght is compressed press ctrl-alt-del to restart”. can i do clean format on the 1Malaysia netbook and install a new copy of win 7? and where can i find the driver?

haha just got it a few month ago work excellent however all drivers like wifi card etc is all in partition D so check it…now i have upgrade it to window 8 but got problem as screen is not big enought…cannot open metro app but dekstop app can..OWH BY THE WAY U CAN INSTALL LIGHT GAMES TO NETBOOK…and indie games like Torchlight2

may i ask… what model is their Ethernet controller… i can’t find any clue here since i’ve formatted it… although i find most of the drivers in HP website except this wireless card driver only… tq in advance.. 😀

I think this 1 MALAYSIA netbook supply few diff brand.Coz my 1 no blue tooth,n the out look diff from your’s..Processor only @1.67 ,32bit operating…Brand is RUVO ,company lacated Penang…It comes only with a netbook 1 chager battery,even don have user manual. I

What is the stock OS? The label says windows 7. Is it pro or home? 32 or 64? Someone sending this piece o s**t to me to format. Am having a hard time coz it won’t boot. BTW admin, im totally agree with you regarding this notebook.

do you have the wifi and LAN driver for this Greatwall 1-Malaysia Laptop? it said Ralink for wifi and Realtek for LAN when I run the hardware identifier, but I couldn’t find any specific driver… if you don’t mind sharing…

How long does the warranty last? Suddenly my 1 malaysia laptop can’t start @@. I was checking my fb when suddenly it turned off. When i tried to start it back it won’t start. I think the adapter is dead and i want to get a new one from warranty if that’s possible.

I have lost my power brick..so do you know what brand of power brick that actually being used for this netbook? Since universal adapter with various head cannot fit to it. If you know where can i get it or someone here want to sell theirs, fill free to contact me..liszsa_11@yahoo.com..tq

Hi Mr John, I forgot my windows password then how should I to reset the password? Because I tried to system recovery from command prompt but it’s need a password to run through also. So do you have another method to reset it. Thanks

That’s a very appropriate review you made, I can’t agree more, but I would like to know the way you format and reinstall the OS. I found out that there’s a recovery partition in it, but I am not sure how to perform it. This netbook seems confusing to me (who isn’t an expert). With Acer I know the hotkey to be alt + F10, and it will direct me to Acer eRecovery management for me to restore it to factory system.

Recently on my Aerogate netbook Model H-S30 (1 Malaysia), due to slow browse and frequent system crash, I use Advance System Recovery
to reinstall Windows 7 but the netbook shuts down whenever online and very slow to boot. How and where can I obtain the drivers and how to recover
Windows 7 ?